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Digest Writer wanted | $500 per newsletter

Added 2021-04-20 22:39:52 +0000 UTC

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: STUDY HALL

Deadline (applications): 21 April 2021

Study Hall is seeking a part-time writer for our weekly Study Hall Digest newsletter.

This is a three-month contract position and requires filing a weekly reported newsletter at a rate of $2,000 a month ($500 per newsletter), paid monthly. The interim writer will likely be able to stay on at the same or higher rate for the foreseeable future.

You will need to file by 10 AM EST every Monday and be online for edits until roughly 1 PM EST (examples of past digests are here), and have availability for staff and editorial meetings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. All other hours are flexible, but in general, an ability to be online during EST work hours is preferred. We have unlimited paid time off, and are flexible with any other needs. We take non-work hours very seriously: you’ll never be asked to work beyond your allotted job responsibilities without compensation.

The staff writer will work closely with the managing editor and assistant editor on the weekly Digest, developing angles at a Wednesday editorial meeting and communicating throughout the week about developments and setbacks. We work remotely, so you must be able to work independently and report on your progress. You should be comfortable pitching ideas for each Digest, receiving feedback, and working with a team to produce content.

The ideal candidate should be a close observer of the media industry, skeptical of its power players and with an affection for its idiosyncrasies. Candidates should be comfortable turning around reporting on a weekly basis, breaking news, adapting to fast-moving stories, and be able to file clear copy consistently on time. We want you to have a voice—this isn’t a dry mainstream news organization. You’ll provide clear and accurate reporting, but also get to say what you think of the news, and you get to be as funny, hopeful, or cynical as you want.

Please let us know about your unique skills, interests, or perspectives that aren’t already represented at Study Hall. We are particularly interested in hearing from BIPOC media workers, candidates with insight into journalism-adjacent fields (tech, business, the creator economy, etc.), and candidates with nontraditional paths into journalism.

This position can be based anywhere within the United States, and you’ll need to be available Monday mornings EST.

TITLE

Interim Digest Writer

COMPENSATION

$2,000 a month for approximately 12.5 hours a week of work.
Contract position with the possibility of renewal after 3 months.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Write the weekly Study Hall Digest newsletter.
Pitch original ideas for stories about the media.
Participate in weekly editorial meetings to develop angles, stories, and formats for the weekly Digest.
Remain well-informed and curious about trends and storylines in the media industry, both macro (publishers lobbying to regulate Facebook) and micro (New York zine feuds).
Report to managing editor Erin Schwartz.

REQUIREMENTS

2+ years of journalism experience, with significant reporting experience (can include freelance and/or work at a college newspaper).
Demonstrated ability to file on time, turn around edits quickly, and generally manage a fast-paced production schedule.
Familiarity with the goings-on of the media industry.
A unique voice.
Solid organizational and communication skills; ability to report on progress and communicate with editors about roadblocks.
Familiarity with Study Hall’s mission and operations before applying. Applications that show a lack of familiarity with our organization will be discarded.

PREFERENCES

Experience writing newsletters.
Familiarity with Mailchimp and Wordpress.
Facility with essayistic, personal writing.
Well-sourced within the media industry.

HOW TO APPLY

Send an email to erin.schwartz@studyhall.xyz, kyle@studyhall.xyz, and p.e.moskowitz@studyhall.xyz with the subject line DIGEST WRITER with a cover letter in the body of the email and a one-page resume attached. Please explain in brief why you’re interested in writing for Study Hall and tell us about a coverage area you’d like to expand.

Include in the body of the email links to three to five relevant clips, including newsletters (personal newsletters are fine). Relevance to Study Hall’s coverage areas helps, but any engaging, well-argued, or well-reported writing is great.

Please only apply if you think you’re a good fit. Every time we post a job, we get hundreds of generic applications that make it obvious you haven’t spent time researching the job; we will not be able to respond to all applications.

The deadline to apply is April 21.

ABOUT US

Study Hall is a digital organization supporting freelance writers and media workers as well as an editorial operation reporting on the media industry. It was founded in 2015 by P.E. Moskowitz and Kyle Chayka. Learn more at studyhall.xyz.

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